Circuitous elevator



April 25, 1933. H. D. JAMES ET AL CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 12. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l WITNE55E5 ATTORNEY April 25, 1933. H. D.'JAMES ET AL 1,905,229

CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 12. 1931 4 Sheet s Sheet 2 April 25, 1933.

H. D. JAMES ET AL.

CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 12. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 25, 1933. H. D. JAMES EfAL 1,905,229

CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Y Filed Jan. 12, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY D. JAMES, F EDGEWOOD, PENN SYLVANIA AND GILBERT D. FISH, OF PEI-ELI,

NEW YOBK, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND ,MANUFLGTUBING m PANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA cr'acorrovs ELEVATOR Application filed January 12, 1931. Serial No. 508,054.

Our invention relates to circuitous elevahouses, hotels, oiiice buildings and the like in tors and has particular relation to circuitous a manner entirely safe forthe persons using elevators for parking or storing automobiles the parkin elevator. in apartment houses, hotels, oflice buildings It is anot or object of our invention to proand the like. vide a control system whereby a selected cage Circu'itous elevators, that is, elevators may be automatically moved to one comprising a plurality of cages or recepplurality of predetermined positions by the tacles, movable successively through two adshortest route. jacent vertical lines in an endless or circui- It is a further object of our inventibn to tons path, and past cooperating stations or provide means for insuring that the doors floors, have been proposed as a solution to the of an automobile upon a cage of a circuitous problem of providing parking space for elevator shall be confined. within the limits automobiles in congested business areas of of the cage, and for rendering the circuitous the larger cities. elevator inoperative if they are not so con- One type of structure for a circuitous elefined. I i

vator thus employed is described in the 00- It is still a further object of our invention pending application of Henry D. James, to provide a means for readily and easily Serial No. 330,455, filed January 5, 1929, and changing the connections of our control sys-' assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & tem hereinafter described, whereby one cage 30 Manufacturing Company. or a plurality of cages of a circuitous elevator It has also been proposed, in the copending may be assigned to any one of a plurality of application of Henry D. James, Serial No. apartments or floors. 414,683, filed December 17,1929, and assigned It is a still further object. of our invention to the Westinghouse Electric &. Manufacturto prevent the opening of apartmen hatchig Company, to employ circuitous elevators way doors unless a cage assigned that for passenger service in apartment houses, apartment is at the level thereo hotels, oiiice buildings and the Other objects of our invention will be- In our present invention, ia mploy cirapparent from the following description, cuitous elevators in apartment houses, hotels, when considered in conjunction with the office buildings and the like for the purpose of accompanying drawings, wherein: permitting the combined use thereof for Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partially p f f g automoblles 111 the a i W P of in elevation and partially in section, of a cirbulldmgs, as W911 as perxmttmg use cuitous elevator for an apartment house, or thereof for passenger service, that is, our th lik ti b i b k away,

35 present invention enables the tenant of any Fig 2 isa table Showing the assignment of I apartment holise to asceznd ddrecfly to the cages to their respective apartments for apartment wh1le seated in his automobile. a typical Sepup of the control system hen, Our invention also enables the tenant to ca l inafter describei the cage in which his automobile is stored 49 directly to his apartment door and descend 3 18 an enlarged m slde eleva' therewith to the ground level. a cage for Suppqrtmg aut9mobfle It is, therefore, an object of our invention Showmg our safety for lllqumng to provide a method whereby combined autothe doors of an automobfle P5 a mobile parking and passenger facilities may Cage Shall be wlthm the hmlts be provided for apartment houses, hotels, i g before rendermg the e o p ofiice buildings and the like. tlve- It is another object of our invention to pro- Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown vide a circuitous elevator having a control in Fig. 3. 3 system adapted for combined automobile Fig. 5 is a view, online V-V of 4,

50 parking and passenger service in apartment showing, in further detail, thestructureand method of operation of my automobile-door safety device.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration corresponding to the central portion of Fig. 1, but on a reduced scale, showing the disposition of the switches on the hatchway walls for cooperating with operating members on each cage for effecting the automobile-door safety function.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view, partially in section, showing the method of preventing the opening of an apartment hatchway-door unless the cage assigned to that apartment is stopped at the level of the apartment door; t also shows the safety platform disposed on a ledge within the hatchway adjacentto the apartment door.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit which We employ for the operation of the circuitous elevator in our invention, and illustratesatypical set-up of connections on a switchboard for effecting the assignment of cages to apartments corresponding to that shown in the table in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, we have illustrated a building 11, such as an apartment house, having six apartments A1 to A6 disposed in superposed relation, three apartments in each of two rows. isposed in a suitable hatchway 12, positioned between the two vertical rows of apartments, is a circuitous elevator comprising a plurality of cages, receptacles, or supports 1 to 8 which are movable in an endless path successively past the ledges 13 adjacent to apartment hatchway doors HDI to HDS, corresponding, respectively, to apartments A1 to A6, and an entrance doorway 9 at a ground floor 20 for providing ingress of automobiles to the cages from the outside and egress to the outside from the cages.

The circuitous elevator itself comprises, briefly, a pair of spaced endless chains 30 (one chain only of which is shown in Fig. 1), each chainbeing supported, at the top of the building 11, by a suitable sprocket wheel or sheave 31 and, at the bottom, by a similar sprocket wheel or sheave 32, and the cages 1 to 8 being pivotally suspended at regular intervals between the two chains by bracket members 33. i

For the purpose of moving the cages, we have provided a motor EM, which we have shown to be of a direct-current shunt-field type, although it may be of any other suitable type. Any suitable gear driving mechanism may be associated with the motor EM for the purpose of effecting movement of the endless chains 30 and the cages 1 to 8. We

have illustrated a simple gear drive which comprises a pair of sprocket wheels 38 keyed, or otherwise suitably fixed, on a common shaft 39, and positioned to engage, respectively, the two endless chains supporting the cages. Keyed or splined to the shaft 39, at

one end thereof, is a gear whel 40 which meshes with a pinion gear wheel 41 kc ed or splined to the shaft 42 of the motor M.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the cages comprise, preferably, a pair of trackways 34, horizontally disposed a suitable distance apart to cooperate with the Wheels of an automobile, and rigidly supported at oppo site ends by a trunnion shaft 35, extending the entire length of, and parallel to, the trackways 34, and rectangular frames 36 secured to the shaft 35 and to the trackways, which are large enough to allow an automobile to pass therethrough.

The manner of supporting the cages from the endless chains is fully described, and one type of construction of the bracket arms 33 is illustrated, in the copending application of Henry D. James, Serial No. 330,455 above mentioned. Briefly, the opposite ends of the trunnion shaft 35 of a cage are each supported in a bearing member constituted by the pivotal joinder of two bracket members 33, which are angularly disposed and pivotally connected to spaced sections of the same endless chain 30.

The portions of the endless chains 30 which are movable in a straight line are maintained therein by guide members 37 (see Fig. 1) which extend from the lower sheave 32 to the upper sheave 31 and are rectangular in crosssection and open on one side to permit passage of the bracket members .33. The guide members 37, suitably supported from the building 11 by any desired means, are for the purpose of maintaining the arallel portions of the endless chains 30 in xed vertical paths, particularly against the torsional or bending force exerted thereon, due to the cantilever method of su orting the cages from the endless chain. he purpose of the bracket arms 33 for supporting the cages from the endless chains is to efiect an increased speed of movement of a cage as it transfers from one vertical path of movement to another, whereby suflicient clearance is obtained between the successive cages at the points of transfer, although. during the movement through the vertical paths, the cages are closely spaced with respect to each other.

It should be understood that the structure shown in Fig. 1 is merely illustrative in that, although each of the cages in the vertical paths is at the level of a ledge corresponding to an apartment or floor, the spacing between successive floors or ledges 13 and successive cages may be varied. For example, it is possible to so space the cages that there are two cages intervening between alternate floors, whereby there are cages at the level only of alternate floors and not all floors, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, although we have shown eight cages for serving six apartments, it should be understood that a greater or a less number of cages may be employed for the-same number of apartments,'or that a greater number of apartments and a corresponding greater number of cages may be employed. 7

It is desirable, in our invention, that a particular cage, or particular cages, be assigned to particular apartments or stopping positions. We have recorded, in the table shown in Fig. 2, the assignment of the cages to apartments for a typical installation. The term assignment, as we have used it, means, more specifically, that a tenant of a particular apartment always uses the same cage for storing his automobile. As before mentioned, there are eight cages for giving service to siX apartments and, therefore, as shown by the table in Fig. 2, We have assigned an extra cage to certain apartments, such as 3 and 6. That is, the apartments 3 and 6 have two cages assigned to them, whereas the other apartments have but one. It should be obvious that, by increasing the number of cages in the circuitous elevator,

it is possibleto providetwo cages for each apartment or three cages for some apartments and a lesser number for others. This is decidedl advantageous in the event that a tenant o a particular apartment has two or more automobiles, or in the event that more than two apartments are on each floor of the apartment house, but, in the latter event, additional circuitous elevators may be provided and suitably disposed in the apartment house, whereby access thereto from the apartments may readily be had.

Likewise, if the disposition of the apartments on a floor is such that a circuitous elevator cannot conveniently be so disposed that access thereto from all of the apartments may be had directly into the hatchway,,a common landing or station may be provided for all of the apartments on a single floor, and a cage or cages for each of the tenants of that floor assigned to that particular station in the same manner as the cages in Fig. 1 are assigned to the several apartments.

The ledges 13 are for the purpose pri1na rily of allowing the doors of automobiles to swing outwardly thereover from a cage when it is stopped at the level thereof. That is, the walls of the hatchway 12, having apartment hatchway doors HDl, etc., therein, are spaced a sufiicient distance from the cages of the circuitous elevatorto allow the doors of an automobile disposed on a cage in the hatchway to swing outwardly. Access by persons to an apartment from a cage is had over the ledge 13 which extends from the hatchway wall substantially to the cage and permits free movement of the cages there past.

A ledge 13 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7 as comprising a plurality of spaced structural members 14, rigidly secured together safety platform 16, which constitutes the top surface thereof. The safety platform 16, which may be of any suitable construction or material, is pivotally supported along one edge by hinge members 17 and along the opposite edge thereof, immediately adjacent to the hatchway wall, by resilient supporting means, such as a plurality of spaced springs 18. An interlock switch 19 is dis. posed beneath the safety platform and is operated to an open position when a person is on the platform. The switches 19 are included in the control system, for the motor EM, hereinafter described, to prevent the operation of the elevator as long as there is an one upon any of the safety platforms.

isposed within the hatchway on the ground floor 20, and extending between the front and rear walls of the hatchway on opposite sides of a cage in the position of cage 1 in Fig. 1, are safety platforms (not shown similar to the platforms 16. switches 19 and 19", included in the control circuit for motor EM, are operated by each one of these platforms, respectively, in a manner similar tothat of switches 19, and prevent movement of the circuitous elevator when any person is standing on either of these platforms in the path of movement of the cages.

For the purpose of insuring that the, hatchway doors HDl and HD6 cannot be opened unless the cage assigned to the apartment corresponding thereto is at the level of the corresponding ledge 13, we have provided (see Fig. 7) a latch member 70, suitably fastened to the bottom edge of an apartment hatchway door, such as HDl, which is engageable by a latch bar 71, biased by a spring 72 into a position to engage the latch member 70 when there is no cage at the ledge 13, or when a cage not assigned to the apartment corresponding to the hatchway door is at the level of the ledge 13. The latch bar 71 is suitably mounted in bearing members, notshown in detail, which permit the bar 71 to pass through the structural members 14, and move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the hatchway door. Keyed, or

otherwise suitably fastened, to a bar, rod, or shaft 73, which extends along ledge 13 and is supported from the lower surface of the ledge 13 by spaced brackets 74, is a lever arm 75 which extends upwardly and is pivotally connected to the end of latch bar 71' at the point 76.

A downwardly 8 projecting lever arm- 77, having a roller rotatably mounted on the lower end thereof, is keyed, or otherwise i Interlock suitably fastened, to the bar 73, at some point intermediate the spaced bracket members 74. The normal position of the arm 77 is such that the roller 78 projects slightly beyond the edge of the ledge 13 into the hatchway.

A cam 79, of trapezoidal or triangular shape, for the purpose of engaging the roller 78 is suitably supported upon a rod 80, preferably of rectangular cross-section, which extends along the entire length of a cage and is supported from the lower curved surface of the track member 34 of a cage by a plurality of bracket members 81. The cam 79 is so positioned that it engages the roller 78 but is free to move past the ledge 13.

When a cage is at the proper stopping level, with respect to the ledge 13, the cam member 79, having engaged the roller 78, effects an inward movement of the arm 77, which results in a rotation of the rod 73 and a movement of the arm 75 in a direction to cause the latch bar 71 to move outwardly, against the force of the spring 72, and to disengage latch member 70. Thus. the un latching of the hatchway door HDl is effected and it may be subsequently manually opened when the usual key-operated lock is released.

We have shown only one figure illustrative of this selective unlatching mechanism for the hatchway doors HDl to HD6. It has been deemed unnecessary to show, for the other cages, the position of the cam member 79 and the roller 78. corresponding to that shown in Fig. 7. However, in order to effect the selective operation of the latch bars 71, for each of the hatchway doors HDl to HDG, the position of the arm 77 and the cam 79 is different for the various cages, with two exceptions. The position of the cam 79 and its associated arm 77 and roller 78 for cages 4 and 6, is the same. since these two cages are both assigned to a single apartment, namely, apartment 3 and, therefore, the hatchway door HD3 is unlatched whenever cage 4 or cage 6 stops at the level of ledge 13 outside hatchway door HD3. Similarly, the cam 79 on each of the cages 1 and 5 and their associated arms 77 and rollers 78 occupy the same positions, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cage. Generally" speaking, however it may be said that the cams 79 and the associated arms 77 for each of the cages occupy different positions along the longitudinally extending bars 80 and 73, respectivel y, whereby only the cam on the cage assigned to an apartment may engage the arm 77 and roller 7 8 for actuating the latch bar 71 associated with the hatchway door for that apartment.

In order to insure that the doors of the automobiles in the cages of the circuitous elevator are closed or, at least, confined within the limits of the cages before allowing the circuitous elevator to move, and, in order to prevent the opening of the automobile doors during movement through the hatchway, which would result in the doors being torn off and the automobile being seriously damaged, we have provided (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) a pair of rollers and 85, of rubber or similar material, for each of the cages. The rollers extend along each side of a cage substantially the entire length thereof and are normally positioned a short distance below the top edge of the doors of an automobile in a cage. The rollers 85 and 85 of each cage have metallic cores 86 and 86, respectively. v

Rigidly attached to the trunnion 35 of each cage, are bracket members 89, 90 and 91 having arms which project outwardly on each side of the trunnion 35. Shafts 92 and 93, extending substantially the entire length of the cage, are rotatably supported on opposite sides of and in parallel'relation to the trunnion 35. in suitable openings or hearings in the ends of the projecting arms of the bracket members 89, 90 and 91. A pair of spaced lever arms 87 and 87, for supporting the roller 85, are keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to the shaft 92. The ends of the rod 86 of the roller 85 rotatably engage suitable openings in the ends of the lever arms 87 and 87. The opposite end of each of the lever arms 87 and 87' is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 5, and the forked portions are associated with the trunnion 35 in such manner that a limited arcuate movement of the roller 85 about the axis of the shaft 92 is permitted, the shaft 92 rotating simultaneously with the movement of roller 85. A tension spring 94, or similar device, connects a point on the bracket 89 to a point on the lever arm 87 in such manner that movement of the lever arm 87 to either side of a dead-centre position allows the spring to retain it in that position.

The bifurcated ends of the lever arms 87 and 87 determine the limiting position which the roller 85 may assume under the efiect of spring 94.

The roller 85' on the opposite side of a cage is similarly supported by the lever arms 88 and 88 which are keyed to the shaft 93. A spring 94; serves the same purpose for roller 85 as spring 94 does for the roller 85.

The shafts 92 and 93 extend slightly beyond the rectangular frame 36 on the end of the cage opposite to that through which an automobile enters, and have projecting lever arms 97 and 98 (Figs. 3 and 4) keyed to their respective .en'ds. Rollers 99 and 100 are rotatably mounted, respectively, on a suitable pin fastened in the ends of the lever arms 97 and 98, for the purpose of engaging strips or I bars 101 comprising a part of the operating lever of an electrical switch 102, mounted onthe hatchway wall in a position correspond mosses ing to the regular stopping position of a ca e.

eferring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that a plurality of switches 102 are provided, two for each of the regular stopping positions of a cage adjacent to an apartment, and two for the loading position at the ground floor 20, for operation, respectively, by the rollers 99 and 100 on all of the cages. For the loading position at the ground floor 20, the strips 101 are disposed horizontally, whereas, in the other positions, they are disposed vertically in order to effect a proper cooperation of the rollers 99 and 100 therewith The operation of this safety device and associated switch for protecting the doors of an automobile should be readily understood from the foregoing description. For the normal lowered position of the rollers 85 and 85, the switches 102 are closed to permit the actuation of the elevator driving motor EM, The occupant of an automobile in a cage who desires to get out of the automobile extends his arm throughone of the automobile windows and raises either of the rollers 85 and 85', depending on which side he desires to step out, a sufficient amount to allow the tension spring 94 or 94' to effect a further arcuate movement thereof and a retention of the roller in a raised position, whereby the automobile door ma be opened and the occupant may get out o the automobile. The rotation of either of shafts 92 and 93 effects an area ate movement of the corresponding roller 99 or 100 which effects a movement of a switch-operating lever 101 to open a switch 102. The opening of a single one of the plurality of switches 102 prevents the actuation of the elevator motor EM.

For the purpose of preventing the movement of the circuitous elevator when an apartment hatchway door is open, or not properly closed, we have provided for each of the hatchway doors, a switch 104 which is operated thereby to open whenever the door is open or not properly closed. The switches 104 are connected in the control circuit, as will be hereinafter more fully described in connection with my control system, in such manner as to prevent movement of the cages when any-of the hatchway doors are open. We have further provided a switch 105, similar to the switches 104, operable to open and revent movement of the cages when the doors f) and D for the doorway 9 at the ground level 20 are open.

At the bottom of the building 11, adjacent to the entrance doorway 9, is a suitable control panel 43, supported in an enclosing cabinet 44, which is attached to the outside wall of the building in a; position readily accessible to a person at the ground level 20; The cabinet 44 is provided with a door having a lock 45 which may be provided with a key in the possession of each of the tenants served by isposed within the hatchway upon one of,

the walls thereof, in a suitable position readily accessible to a person standing on the ground floor 20, is a control anel 46 having thereon a plurality of pushutton switches G1 to G8, corresponding, respectively, to

cages 1 to 8, for the purpose of effecting the dispatch of the corresponding cages to the apartments to which the cages are assigned.

For the purpose of permitting a person in an apartment to call the cage or cages assigned thereto to the ledge 13 adjacent to the hatchway door of the apartment, push-button call switches G1 to C8 are provided.

Since cages 2, 3, 7 and 8 are assigned, respectively, to apartments A1, A2, A4 and A5 (see Fig. 2) switches C2, C3, C7 and C8 are suitably attached to a wall of the corresponding apartment for ready operation by the tenant. Apartment A3 has switches C4 and 06 therein, since cages 4 and 6 are assigned thereto, and apartment A6 has switches 01 and 05 therein, since cages 1 and 5 are assigned thereto. It should be understood that each of the apartments is provided with two or more push-button call switches in the event that the assignment of the cages, as indicated in the table of Fig. 2, is altered in the manner hereinafter described as permissible by our invention.

For the purpose of elfecting the dispatch of a cage, from an apartment to which it has been assigned to the round level, we provide a pluralit of ispatch push-button switches D1 to apartments in accordance with the assignment of the cages. It should likewise be understood that, in order to effect an alteration of the assignment of cages, one or more other dispatch push-button switches may be pro its 8 disposed in the various 1 vided for each of the apartments, in addition to those shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, for the purpose of eifecting the movement of a selected cage to a predetermined position bythe shortest route, we have provided a direction selector switch 47 for controlling the actuation of the elevator motor EM. Such a selector is described in the copending ap lication of F. E. Lewis, Serial No. 398,898, tiled October 11, 1929 and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, and, in itself, does not constitute a part of our invention. However, we have included it in our control system in such manner as to obtain a novel result. We have illustrated the selector 47 diagrammatically, and its mode of operation, in part, in Figs. 8 and 1, respectively. The details of structure of the selector 47 are immaterial to our invention, but, in order to more readily and completely understand and comprehend the operation of our control system, a brief description of a preferred con struction will be given.

The selector 47 comprises three commutator or collector rings 48, 49 and 50, shown in development in Fig. 8, which are coaxially mounted, in insulated relation to each other, on a drum, not shown, which is keyed to a shaft 51 having a gear wheel 52 keyed thereto. The rings 48, 49, 50 on the drum are rotated in accordance'with the movement of the cages by means of an endless chain 53 which connects gear wheel 52 and a gear wheel 54 on a shaft 55 to which one of the upper sheaves or sprocket wheels 31 is keyed.

The ring 48 comprises two electrically conducting semi-circular segments 48' and 48 which are separated by insulating se ments 56 and 57. The ring- 49 is electrical y connected to the segment 48 by a conductor 60, and the ring 50 is electrically connected to segment 48" by a conductor 61.

Mounted stationarily on a suitable supporting base (not shown), at regular angular intervals around the periphery of ring 48 and in engagement therewith, are a plurality of brushes or contact fingers 1' to 8'. The segment 48 is sli htly longer than the segment 48" so that, w ien one of the brushes engages the insulating segment 56, there is one more brush engaged with the segment 48' than with the segment 48". As will be hereinafter made clear, this is for the purpose of arbitrarily determining that a cage in the uppermost position in the hatchway moves in a predetermined direction when called to the ground floor 20 b the operation of a push-button correspon ing thereto.

The movement of the drum u on which the rings 48, 49 and 50 aremounte is so related to the movement of the ca es that the insulating segment 56 moves rom engagement with one brush into engagement with an immediately succeeding brush during the movement of one cage away from the ground floor and the arrival of an immediately succeeding cage thereafter. The segment 56 engages one of the brushes 1' to 8 at the time that the cage corresponding thereto is at the ground floor 20.

Brushes 62 and 63, for engaging the rings 49 and 50, respectively, are suitably mounted on the same so porting base as brushes 1 to 8' and efiect t e connection of segments 48' and 48", respectively, through the energizing coils of a clockwise direction-relay 64 and a counter-clockwise direction-relay neoasaa button switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1 to C8 and D1 to D8.

We have provided a means for readily and simply altering the connections of our control circuit whereby any cage or any number of cages may be assigned to any particular apartment. This means comprises the switchboard panel 67 (Fig. 8) mounted in any suitable place where access thereto may be had only by properly trained or authorized persons.

The switchboard 67 is of the ordinary single-contact telephone type having flexible cords or conductors, such as 68, provided with terminal plugs, such as 69, on both ends thereof for engaging jacks, such as 69, suit ably mounted on the panel 67.

A plurality of groups of jacks similar to 69 is provided on the panel 67 for each of the brushes 1' to 8', and all of the jacks of each group are connected together, and to their corresponding brushes 1' to 8, by a single conductor. WVe have illustrated each group of jacks connected to one of the brushes as comprising eight jacks. It should be understood that the number in each group may be changed, depending upon the requirements of a particular installation.

An individual jack, such as 69, is rovided on the panel for each of the pushutton switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1 to C8 and D1 to D8, and each of the jacks is connected to one contact member of its corresponding push-button switch by a suitable electrical conductor, in a manner which-will be hereinafter more fully described.

By means of switchboard panel 67 and the removable plug connectors 68, we are enabled to connect any of the push-button switches to any of the brushes 1 to 8, thus effecting what we have previously determined as the assignment of any cage, or number of cages, to a particular apartment.

In order to prevent the simultaneous efi'ective operation of more than one of the pushbutton switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1 to C8 and D1 to D8, we have provided a so-called non-interference relay 106 (see Fig. 8) which has two coils 107 and 108, associated with a plunger 109 for operating the contact members of a switch. The structure and operation of a relay of this type is well known and, in itself, does not constitute a part of our invention. The coils 107 and 108 and the normally closed contact members of the relay 106 are all in series to initially permit the operation of any of the push-buttons on the panels 43 and 46' or in the apartments.

Initially, the two coils 107 and 108 exert magnetic pulls of equal force in opposite directions on the plunger 109 so that no movement of the plunger to open contacts of relay 106 is effected. The operation of one of the push-button switches effects the shunting of coil 108 by a suitable resistor 110, in a manner which will be hereinafter described in greater detail, and this results in an unbalanced pull of the two coils which effects a movement of plunger 109 to open the contact members of relay 106. The opening of the contact members of relay 106 opens the electrical connections to all of the push-button switches and their effective operation is prevented until the contact members of relay 106 are again closed by removel of the shunting circuit, comprising resistor 110, around the coil 108.

A relay 66 is provided for the purpose of effecting the partial closing of the control circuit to the motor EM whenever one of the push-button switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1 to C8 and D1 to D8 is closed.

A relay 66 is provided for opening the control circuit to the motor EM whenever any of the switches 102 is opened by the operation of any of the automobile-door protective devices comprising the rollers 85 and 85'.

Each of the switches L1 to L8 is provided with a relay GCl t0 GCS, respectively, which is actuated to close the shunting circuits, comprising the resistance 110, around the coil 108 of the non-interference relay 106, whenever its corresponding switch L1 to L8 is closed.

Relays GDl to GDS are rovided, respectively, for switches G1 to, 8, relays AC1 to AC8 are provided, respectively, for switches C1 to C8, and relays ADl to ADS are provided, respectively, for switches D1 to D8, and serve the same purpose for their corresponding switches as the relays G01 to GC8 perform upon the closing of their corresponding switches.

The motor-control system included in our invention comprises a starting resistance 139, for the motor EM, and acceleration relays 1 15 and 1 16 for shunting out the resistor 139 in two successive steps upon starting of the motor EM, and the reinsertion thereof in two successive steps upon the stopping thereof.

The operation and method of storing an automobile in the apartment house upon a cage of the circuitous elevator, and the method of removal thereof can best be understood by an assumed operation. Let it be assumed that the tenant of apartment A2 drives his automobile directly from the street, by a suitable ramp approach, to the doorway 9, at the ground floor 20 of the building, and stops it facing the doors D, D and immediately in front thereof. He steps out of his automobile, unlocks and opens the control cabinet 44, a

and presses the push-button switch L3, for

calling the cage assigned to his apartment,

namely, cage 3 to the ground floor 20.

Assuming the doors D, D to be closed and the cages of the elevator to be positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the closin of the switch L3 (see Fig. 8) closes a circuit for energizing relay 'GC3, clockwise-relay 64 and relay 66, which extends from the supply conductor LL1, through all of the apartment hatchwaydoor interlock switches 104 in series, the entrance-door interlock switch 105, the ledge safety-platform interlock switches 19 in series, the ground floor safety-platform interlock switches 19 and 19", conductor 120, coils 107 and 108 of relay 106, contact members of relay 106, conductors 121 and 122, switch L3, the coil of relay GC3, conductor 123, jack 69a, on the panel 67, corresponding to the switch L3, plug 69a inserted in the jack 69'a, conductor 68a, plug 69?) inserted in the jack 691'), conductor 12%, brush 3', segment 48 of the ring 48 on the selector 47, conductor 60, ring 19, brush 62, conductor 125, coil of relay 64, conductor 126, normally closed contact members a of relay 65, conductor 127, coil of relay 66 and conductors 128 and 129, to.

supply conductor LL2.

The energization of the coil of relay GC3. efi'ects the closing of the contact members of that relay which close a holding circuit, whereby switch L3 may be released, the holding circuit comprising a shunt circuit around coil 108, the contact members of relay 106 and switch L3, which circuit extends from the terminal 131, to which one end of each of the coils 107 and 108 is connected, through conductor 132, resistor 110, conductors 133, 134 and 135, contact members of relay GC3 and conductor 136, to one of the contact members of switch L3 connected to the coil of relay- GC3. The connection of the resistor 110, in this manner, in parallel with coil 108 of'rela 106 reduces the voltage drop across that coil thus allowing the coil 107 to exert a eater magnetic pull on the plunger 109, w ereby contact members of relay 106 are opene The opening of contact members of relay 106 effects the opening of the'electrical connection to all of the switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1"

t9 C8 and D1 to D8, and the effective operation of the switches is, therefore, prevented until the call set up by the operation of switch L3 has been completed, and the contact mem-- bers of relay 106 are reclosed, in a manner hereinafter described.

The energization of the coil of rclay"6.6 eiiects the closing of the contact members of that relay which close a circuit for energizing the field coil EMF of the elevator motor EM, and for partially closing a circuit for energizing the armature winding EM' of the motor EM. The circuit for the field coil EMF extends from supply conductor LL1, through conductor 130, contact members of relay 66 (closed whenall of the automobile-door protective switches 102 are closed) conductor 137, contactmembers of relay 66, conductor 138, coil EMF and conductor 129, to supply conductor LL2.

It is assumed that all of the automobiledoor protective switches 102 are closed at this time. A circuit for energizing the coil of relay 66 is closed when the entrance doorway switch 105, the safety platform switches 19' and 19". all the safety-platform switches 19, all the hatchway-door switches 104 and all the automobile-door protective switches 102 are closed, which circuit extends from supply conductor LLl through all of the switches 104 in series, switch 105, all of the switches 19 in series, switches 19' and 19", all of the switches 102 in series, conductor 150, coil of relay 66' and conductor 129, to supply conductor LL52. The energization of the coil of relay 66 effects the closing of the contact members of that relay which partially closes the circuit previously traced.

The energization of the coil of relay 64 effects the closing of normally open contact members a and b and the opening of the normally closed contact members 0 of that relay The contact members 0 of the relay 64 are in series with the coil of relay 65 and thus prevent the energization of relay 65 whenever relay 64 is energized.

The closing of contact members a and 7) of relay 64 completes a circuit for energizing the armature winding E'M' of the motor EM to cause it to rotate in a direction to move the cages ot' the circuitous elevator in a clockwi e direction and, by referring to Fig. 1, it will be that this is the proper direction for cage 3 to move in order to travel to the ground floor 20 by the shortest route. This circuit extends from supply conductor LLl, through conductor 1.30, contact members of relay 66', conductor 137, contact members of relay 66, conductor 138, resistor 139, conductor 140, contact members a of relay 64, conductors 141 and 142, winding EM, conductors 143 and 144. contact menu hers b of relay 64 and conductor 129, to supply conductor LL2.

The motor EM thus starts and gradually increases to a maximum speed, the acceleration relays 145 and 146 successivelv shunting out portions of the starting resistor 139 until, at the highest speed of rotation the resistor 139, is completely shunted. The relays 145 and 146 are of the usual and well known type of relay used for this purpose and their coils are connected across the terminals of the armature winding EM of the motor EM. 7

It should be understood that, although not illustrated in Fig. 8, the usual service brake is provided for the motor EM which is magnetically operated to release upon the energization-of either of the direction relays 64 and 65, and is automatically set by spring operation upon the deenergization of the relays 64 and 65. Such brake and control there fore are so Well known that it is deemed unnecessary to further complicate the diagram of Fig. 8 by the addition thereon of these features of motor control.

The circuitous elevator continues to move at the nominally high speed, driven by the motor EM, in the manner previously described, until the segment 56 on the ring 48 of the selector 47 engages the brush 3', at which time the energizing circuit previously traced through the coils of relays GC3, 64 and 66 is opened thereby.

The deenergization of the coil of relay GC3 effects the opening of the contact members of that relay which open the shunting circuit including resistor 110 around the coil 108, and the contact members of relay 106 and the switch L3.

The engagement of brush 3' by the segment 56 also opens the circuit for energizing coils 107 and 108 of relay 106 and, for this reason, as well as for the reason that the shunting circuit around coil 108 is removed, the

contact members of relay 106 reclose to estab-- lish the electrical connection to all of the push-button switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8,- C1 to C8 and D1 to D8.

The. deenergization of the coil of relay 66 opens the circuit for energizing both the field coil EMF and the armature winding E'M' of the motor EM and thus the stopping of the motor is effected. The deenergization of the coil of relay 64 additionally opens the control circuit for energizing armature winding EM of the motor EM, and effects the setting of the service brake on the motor EM, in the manner previously described, where upon the circuitous elevator is brought to a gradual stop; the relays 146 and 145 opening successively in that order, upon the diminution of the counter electromotive force in the armature winding I'M, to successively reinsert the entire resistor 139 in the armaturewinding circuit.

The engagement of the insulating segment 56 with the brush 3 is so timed that the track members 34 of cage 3 are exactly at the level of the ground floor 20 when the circuitous elevator is completely stopped.

The tenant desiring to store his automobile is aware of the fact that his cage has arrived at the round floor by the cessation of sounds incident to the operation of the circuitous elevator or by a'suitable signal lamp or hell which is operated upon the aeoaaae which may be either manually operated or motor operated with a suitable push-button control.

After opening the doors D, D, the tenant returns to his automobile, drives it directly into cage 2 until it is properly positioned therein. Assuming that he possesses an automobile having a steering wheel on the lefthand side. he. without moving from his position behind the steering wheel, extends his arm out through the window of the automobile and raises the roller 85, on the left side of the automobile, a sufficient amount until, by the action of the spring 94', it is snapped into a raised position, sufficiently high to clear the top edge of the automobile doors. One of the switches 102 is thereby operated into an open position by the movement of the strip 101, into the dotted-line position illustrated in Fig. 4, thus preventing the operation of the elevator until theroller 85' is again lowered into its position below the top edge of the automobile doors.

As the tenant gets out of his automobile,

' he steps upon the safety platform, previously described, and effects the opening of the switch 19' which further prevents the operation of the elevator, and, while standing on the safety platform, the tenant presses the switch G3 on the switch panel 46.

The closing of the switch G3closes a circuit for energizing the coils 107 and 108 of the relay 106, coil of relay GD3, the coil of relay 65, and the coil of relay 66, which circuit extends from supply conductor LLl, through all of the switches 104 in series, the switch 105. all of the switches 19, the switches 19' and 10", conductor 120, coils 107 and 108 and contact members of relay 106, conductors 121. 151 and 152, switch G3, coil of relay G113, conductor 158, jack 69'0 on the panel 67. plug 690 inserted therein, conductor 68?), plug 69d, jack 69'cl, conductor 154, brush 1, segment 18" of the ring 48 on the selector t7. conductor 61, ring 50, brush 63, conductor 155, coil of relay 65, conductor 156, normally closed contact members a of relay 64, conductors 157 and 127, coil of relay 66 and conductors 128 and 129, to supply conductor LL2.

The energization of the coil of relay GD3 efi'e'cts the closing of the contact members of that relay which close a shunting circuit including the resistor 110 around coil 108, and contact members 106, and the switch G3, which circuit extends from the terminal 131, to which one end of each of the coils 107 and 108 is connected, through conductor 132, resistor 110, conductors 138, 158 and 159, contact members of relay G173 and conductor 160. to one of the contact members of the switch G3, which is connected, to the coil of the relay GD3. The contact members of relay 106 are opened because of the unbalanced pull of the coils 107 and 108, as previously described, and the electrical connection to all of the switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, Clto C8, and D1 to D8, is again opened to revent their effectual operation until comp etc response is made to the dispatch signal set up by the operation of the switch G3.

The energization of relay 66 closes the contact members thereof, and, since the contact members of relay 66 are open at this time, due to the fact that one of the switches 102 is. open, the closing of the contact members of relay 66 only partially closes the circuit for energizin the field coil EMF and the armature win mg EM of the motor EM.

The energization of relay closes the normally open contact members a and b and opens the normally closed contact members.

0 thereof.

The contact members 0 are in series with, the coil of relay 64 and, when open, prevent the energization of relay 6 1 simultaneously with relay 65.

The closing of the contact members a and b of relay 65 further partially closes the circuit for energizing the armature winding E'M of the motor EM.

The tenant returns to his automobile, after first closing the doors D, D, from the inside of the hatchway, either manually or by pushbuttons included in a control system for a motor-operated door closer, gets in and closes the automobile door only to such degree that he may, upon reaching through the door, grasp the roller and pull it down until the action of the spring 94 snaps it into its fixed lowered position in which it prevents the doors ofthe automobile from swinging outwardly.

The lowering of the roller 85' eifects the reclosing of the switch 102 in the manner previously described and, assuming all of the remainder of the switches 102 to be closed, the closing of this final switch 102 closes the circuit for energizing the coil of relay 66' previously traced. The energization of the re ay 66' effects the closing of the contact members of that relay which close the circuit for energizing the field coil EMF of the motor EM, which circuit was previously traced. The closing of the contact members of relay 66' also effects the closing of the circuit for energizing the armature winding E'M' of the motor EM, which circuit extends from supply conductor LLl, through conductor 130, contact members of relay 66', conductor 137, contact members of relay -66, conductor 138, resistor 139, conductors 161 and 162, contact members 6 of relay 65, conductors 144 and .143, windingvE'M, con ductors 142 and 141, contact members a of relay 65 and conductors 163 and. 129, to

supply conductor LL2.

It will thus be seen that, in the dispatching of a cage from the ground floor 20 to a particular apartment, the final step in completing the control circuit for energizing the driving motor EM is the operation of the automobile-door protective device comprising the roller 85 or the. roller 85'.

The accelerating relays 145 and 146 function, as before described, to completely shunt out the resistor 139 from the motor-armature winding EM' circuit in two successive steps, and the circuitous elevator moves at the highest speed until the insulating segment 56 of the ring 48 on the selector 47 engages brush 1, at which time. the circuit previously traced for energizing the coils of relays 106, G 3, and 66 is opened.

The deenergization of relay CD3 opens the shunting circuit comprising the resistor 110 around coil 108 and the contact members of relay 106 and the switch G3 thereof. Deenergization of coils 107 and 108 of relay 106, together with the removal of the shunt around coil 108, effects the reclosing of the contact members of'relay 106, whereby the electrical connection to all of the switches L1 to L8. G1 toGS, C1 to C8 and D1 to D8 is established, after which the latter may be effectively operated to register a call or dispatch signal.

The deenergization of relay 66 opens the circuit previously traced for energizing the field coil EMF and the armature winding E'M' of the motor EM, and the motor is thus stopped, the service brake being applied automatically as previously described.

The engagement of the insulating segment 56 with brush 1 is so timed that the track members 34 of cage 3 stop in a position substantially at the level of the ledge 13 adjacent to the apartment A2. It will be noted that the cage 3 has moved in a counter-clockwise direction to the apartment to which it is assigned, this direction being such as to allow the cage to be moved by the shortest route to the apartment to which it is assigned.

Upon the arrival of cage 3, substantially at the level of the ledge 13 adjacent to apartment A2, the cam 79 on cage 3 engages the roller 78 on the arm 77 comprising the lever mechanism for eiiecting movement of the latch bar 71, to unlatch the door HD2 to allow it to be opened manually. Due to the fact that the cam members 79 on other cages are not in the same position relative to their cages as is cam 79 of cage 3, no movement of the other cages past ledge 13 adjacent to apartment A2 or the stopping of other cages thereat can effect the unlatching movement of latch bar 71. Thus, unless cage 3 stops adjacent to the ledge 13 for apartment A2, the doors HD2 cannot be opened either from the hatchway side or fromv the apartment side.

Upon the stopping of the cage 3 at the level of the ledge 13 corresponding to apart- -ment A2, the tenant extends his arm through the open window on the right-hand side of the automobile, and raises the roller 85 a sulficient amount for the spring 94 to snap it into a raised position above the top edges of the automobile doors. The doors of the automobile are thus free to swing outwardly over the ledge 13, and the tenant gets out of his car, stepping upon the safety platform 16 comprising the upper surface of the ledge 13, thus effecting the opening of the switch 19, actuated thereby, for preventing the movement of the elevator as long as he remains on the safety platform. At this time, the switch 102, which has been operated to an open position by the raising of the roller 85, also prevents the operation and movement of the circuitous elevator.

The tenant steps across the safety platform to the hatchway door HD2, unlocks the door and manually opens it. The opening of the door HD2 opens the associated switc 1 104, which further prevents the operation and movement of the elevator. The tenant then returns to the ledge, lowers the roller 85 which closes switch 102 operated thereby, steps back over the ledge 13 into his apartment and recloses the door from the apartment side. As soon as the tenant steps into his apartment and off the ledge 13, the safety-platform switch 19 recloses and, as soon as the door HD2 is completely closed,

the switch 104; operated thereby is reclosed,

and the circuitous elevator is again in a condition for operation. It should be noted that, by means of the above described safety and interlock switches, it is impossible for a tenant to remain within the hatchway without preventing the operation of the elevator. The complete safety of the tenant or other persons is thus insured.

Now, let it be assumed that the tenant of apartment A2 desires to leave his apartment house by way of the circuitous elevator. Let it be further assumed, for purposes of this explanation, that cage 3 assigned to his apartment is not stopped at the level of the ledge outside the hatchway door HD2 but that another cage, for example, cage 7, is stopped at that point. He presses the call push-button C3 inside his apartment which closes a circuit for energizing the coils of relay 106, the coil of relay AC3, coil of relay 64 and the coil of relay 66, which circuit extends from supply conductor LLl, through switches 104, 105, 19, 19', 19, conductor 120, coils 107 and 108 and contact members of relay 106, conductors 121. 164, 165, switch C3, coil of relay AC3, conductor 166, jack 69e, plug 696 inserted therein, conductor 167,

plug 69f, jack 69'), conductor 154, brush 1, segment 48', conductor 60, ring 49, brush 62, conductor 1.25, coil of relay 64, conductor 126, contact members 0 of relay 65, conductor 127, coil of relay 66 and conductors 128 and 129, to supply conductor LL2.

The energization of the coil of relay AC3 efiects the closing of the contact members of that relay which shunt the coil 108 and contact members of relay 106 and switch C3, by the resistor 110, which circuit extends from the terminal 131, connected to the coils 107 and 108, through conductor 132, resistor 110, conductors 133, 168 and 169, contact members of relay AC3 and conductor 170, to the contact member of switch C3 connected to the coil of relay AC3. The electrical connection to all of the switches L1 to L8, G1 to G8, G1 to C8, D1 to D8 is thus opened by the opening of the contact members of relay 106, in the manner previously described, and the circuit just traced is maintained through the resistor 110 and the contact members of relay AC3.

The energization of relays 64 and 66 effects the actuation of the driving motor EM, in the manner previously described, and the elevator, therefore, gradually accelerates to the highest speed in a clockwise direction and continues to so move until the insulating segment 56 engages the brush 1, at which time the circuit previously traced is opened, the coil of relay AC3 deenergized, and the motor EM stopped, as a result of the deenergization of relays 64 and 66, in the manner previously described.

The cam 79 on cage 3 again engages roller 78 on the arm 77 and eiiects the movement of the latch bar 71 to unlatch the door HD2 upon the substantial arrival of the cage 3 at the ledge 13 adjacent to the apartment A2.

The engagement of segment 56 with brush 1 is so timed as to effect the stopping of cage 3 opposite the ledge 13 adjacent to apartment A2, in the proper position to permit the tenant to enter his automobile from the ledge 13. As soon as the latch bar 71 is disengaged from the door HD2, the tenant of apartment A2 may open the door HD2 from the apartment side and opening the door manually. Once he has opened his apartment door HD2, the circuitous elevator is prevented from being operated, as previously described, by the opening of the interlock switch 104 associated with the door HDEZ.

The tenant steps out on the ledge 13 upon the safety platform 16 and raises the roller 85 a sulticient amount to permit the spring 94 to snap it into a raised position, thus opening the switch 102 associated therewith. The tenant then steps back into his apartment, presses the dispatch push-button switch D3, manually closes and locks the door HD2 from the hatchway side, steps across ledge 13, opens the door of his automobile and gets in, closing the door after him.

The closing of the switch D3 com letes a circuit for energizing the coils o relays AD3, 64 and 66, which circuit extends from supply conductor LL1, through the circuit previously traced to the contact members of relay 106, thence through the contact members, conductors 121 and 171, switch D3, coil of relay ADE), conductor 172, ack 69g, plug 69g, conductor 173, plug 69h, jack 69 k, con' ductor 124, brush 3', segment 48, conductor 60. ring 49. brush 62, conductor 125, coil of relay 64, conductor 126, contact members of relay 65, conductor 127, coil of relay 66 and conductors 128 and 129, to supply conduc-- tor LL2.

The energization of relay ADS elliects the shunting of the coil 108 and contact members of relay 106 and the switch D3 by a circuit which extends from the terminal 131, through conductor 132, resistor 110, conductors 133 and 174, contact members of relay AD3 and conductor 17 5, to the contact member of the switch D3 connected to the coil of relay AD3, whereupon, the switch D3 may be released and the circuit previously traced maintained through the resistor 110 and the contact members of relay members ADS.

The energization of the relays 64 and 66 results in the partial closing of the circuits previously traced for energizing the field windings EMF and the motor-armature winding E'M of the motor EM.

The tenant then extends his arm throu h the open window of his automobile and pu downwardly on the roller 85 a suflicient amount until the action of the spring 94 snaps it into its lowered position below the top edges of the automobiledoors, whereby the closin of the switch 102 is simultaneously efl'ecte The closing of the switch 102 closes the circuit previously traced for energizing coil of relay 66 which results in the closing of the contact members of relay 66 and the completing of the circuits previously traced for energizing the field coil EMF and the armature Winding EM of the motor EM. The motor is thus energized to rotate in such direction as to cause movement of the circuitous elevator in a clockwise direction and, by the action of the accelerating relays 145 and 146, gradually accelerates the elevator to highest speed. The elevator continues to move in the clockwise direction, at the highest speed, until segment 56 of the ring 48 on the selector 47 engages brush 3' which opens the circuit previously traced for energizing relays 64 and 66, as well as relay AD3, whereupon cage 3 is stopped with its track members 34 exactly at the level of the ground floor 20, the cage having moved from the apartment to the ground floor by the shortest route, as will be readily determined by an observation of Fig. 1.

When cage 3 stops at the ground floor 20, the tenant raises either of the rollers 85 or 85' until the springs 94 and 94', associated respectively therewith, snap them into raised bile doors,

The switch 102 associated with the roller or 85 operated is thus opened and prevents further operation of the elevator until reclosed.

The tenant then opens the doors D, D; the switch 105 being opened thereby to prevent the operation of the elevator.

After returning to his automobile and recntering it, the tenant lowers the roller which he previously raised until the spring snaps it into a lowered position and effects the closing of the switch 102 associated therewith. The tenant now backs his automobile out of cage 3 through the open doors D, D and into the su itablc drive-way space provided outside the apartment building.

t should be noted that, as long as the doors D, D open, the circuitous elevator cannot be operated. Therefore, the tenant is completely protected until such time as he is ready to close the doors D, D from the out side, which he can do only after his automobile is completely out of the door-way 9. The tenant, by reclosing the doors, closes the switch 105, and renders the control system again in a condition receptive to any calls which may be registered by the operation of any of the push-buttons L1 to L8 on the call panel 44:, or any of the call or dispatch pushbuttons in any of the apartments.

It will thus be seen that, by our invention, a single person is enabled to store his automobile in his apartment building, and remove it therefrom, entirely unaided and with complete safety.

The method of operation of the circuitous elevator by the tenants of any of the other apartments is similar to that described with respect to the tenant of apartment A2, except that apartments A3 and A6 have two sets of call and dispatch push-button switches, one for each of two cages assigned to those apartments, as previously indicated.

It will, therefore, be seen that we have disclosed a method whereby combined automobile parking and passenger facilities are provided for apartments, hotels, oflice buildings, and the like and have provided a control system for effecting this method of operation.

It will be seen, also, that we have included as a part of our invention, various safety and interlock devices, for rendering the opera-' tion of the circuitous elevator susceptible to practical use, and whereby injury to persons operating the circuitous elevator is prevented.

It will be seen, further, that we have provided a control system for the operation of a circuitous elevator which comprises a plurality of widely separated operating means, whereby predetermined cages are automatically moved to a position adjacent the corresponding operating means and stopped thereat, and whereby a predetermined cage is automatically dispatched, by the shortest route,

from a position adjacent to its corresponding operating means to a predetermined position at some distance therefrom, and automatically stopped at the latter position.

It will still further be seen, that we have provided a means for preventing movement of the circuitous elevator unless the doors, of the automobiles positioned on the cages are closed or, at least, confined within the limits of the cage.

It will further be seen that we have also provided a means comprising our control 1 system whereby any cage may be readily as signed to any apartment, and a plurality of cages be assigned to a particular apartment.

It will also be seen that we have provided a means for preventing the opening of an apartment hatchway door unless the cage or cages assigned thereto are stopped thereat.

Although we have illustrated but one specific embodiment of our invention it is understood, of course, that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit thereof. We desire, therefore, that nov limitations be imposed thereon except those necessitated by the prior art or by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automobile-storage device, a plurality of automobile movers, movable in an endless path, and means including means on each mover cooperating with. the doors of an automobile disposed on the corresponding mover, for preventing the movement of all the automobile movers when an automobile door is open outwardly more than a predetermined amount.

2. In an automobile-storage device, a plurality of automobile receptacles movable in an endless path, motive means for moving said receptacles, means on each receptaclenormally positioned for confining the doors of an automobile on a receptacle within the limits of the receptacle and operable to an other position to permit the doors of the automobile to open, and interlock means responsive to the latter position of said automobile-door-confining means to prevent the movement of said motive means and said rereceptacles.

3. In a safety mechanism for an automobile-storage devicecomprising a plurality of automobile receptacles movable in an endless path, means for preventing movement of all the receptacles when the door of an automobile on any of the receptacles is open whereby injury to any automobile is prevented, said means comprising a pair of rods disposed in a substantially horizontal position, one on each side of each receptacle, and means for pivotally supporting each of said rods on a receptacle for movement into two positions whereby, in one position thereof, the opening of the doors of an automobile cn a receptacle is prevented and wherewomen by, in'another position thereof, the automobile doors may be opened.

4. In a safety mechanism for an automobile-storage device comprisin a pluralit of automobile receptacles mova Is in an en less path, means for preventing movement of all the receptacles when the door of any automobile on any of the receptacles is open whereby injury to any automobile is prevented, said means comprising a pair of rods disposed in a substantially horizontal position, one on each side of each receptacle, means for pivotally supporting each of said rods on a receptacle for movement into two positions, whereby, in one position thereof, the opening of the doors of an automobile on a receptacle is prevented and whereby, in

' another position thereof, the automobile doors may be opened, and tension means for each of said rods for permitting movement of said rods but retaining them in either the one or the other of said positions.

5. In a safety mechanism for an automobile-storage device comprising a plurality of automobile receptacles movable in an endless path and motive means for moving said receptacles, means for preventing movement of all the receptacles when the door of an automobile on any of the receptacles is open whereby injury to any automobile is prevented, said means comprising a pair of rods disposed in a substantially horizontal position, one on each side of each receptacle, means for pivotally supporting each of said rods on a receptacle for movement into two positions, whereby, in one position thereof, the opening of the doors of an automobile on a receptacle is prevented and whereby, in another position thereot, the automobile doors may be opened, and interlock means responsive to the latter position of said rods for preventing movement of said motive means and said receptacles.

6. In an endless conveyor system, a plurality of receptacles movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, a door at each of said stations, means normally preventing each of said doors from opening and responsive to the presence of a predetermined receptacle at the corresponding station for allowing adoor to be opened.

7 In an endless-conveyor system, a plurality of receptacles movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, a door at each of said stations, means normally preventing each of said doors from opening and responsive to the presence of predetermined receptacles at the corresponding station for allowing a door to be opened.

8. In an endless-conveyor system, a plurality of receptacles movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, a door at each of said stations, a latch member for each of said doors normally biased into a position to prevent the opening thereof, a

lever for each of said doors for causing said latch member to be moved to a position whereby the door associated therewith ma be opened, each of said levers occupying di of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means at one of said stations for selecting any support and causing it to be moved to said one station by the shortest route, and means at said one station for selecting any support and causing it to be moved from the said one station to another of said stations by the shortest route.

10. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means at one of said stations for selecting any support and causing it to be moved to said one station by the shortest route and stopped thereat, and means at said one station or selecting any support and causing it to be moved from the said one station to another of said stations by the shortest route andstopped thereat.

11. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means at each of said stations for selecting one of said supports and for causing it to be moved to the corresponding station by the shortest route, and means at each of said stations for selecting one of said supports and causing it to be moved from the corresponding station to another of said stations by the shortest route.

12. In a structure comprising a. plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a pluralit of stations, means at each of said stations or selecting one of said supports and for causing it to be moved to the corresponding station by the'shortest route, and means at each of said stations for selecting one of said supports and causing it to be moved from the corresponding station to a predetermined one of said stations by the shortest route.

13. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations and motive means for moving the supports, call means at a predetermined station for selecting any one of said supports and causing said motive means to move it to the predetermined station by the shortest route, and dispatch means at the predetermined station for selecting any one of said supports and causing said motive means to move it from the predetermined station to a predetermined other station by the shortest route.

14. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, and motive means for moving the supports, call means at each of said stations except a predetermined one thereof for selecting each of a predetermined few of said plurality of supports and cans ing said motive means to move it to the corresponding station by the shortest route, and dispatch means at each of the said stations except the predetermined station for selecting any one of the few supports movable thereto by the operation of the corresponding call means and causing said motive means to move it from the corresponding station to the said predetermined station by the shortest route.

15. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, call means at each of said stations except a predetermined one thereof operable to select a particular one of said supports and cause it to be moved to the station having the call means operated by the shortest route, and dispatch means at each of said stations except the predetermined one thereof operable to select the particular support moved thereto by the operation of the call means at the same station and cause it to be moved from the corresponding station to the said predetermined station by the shortest route.

16. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means at each of said stations except a predetermined one for selecting only one of said supports and for causing it to be moved to the corresponding station by the shortest route, and means at the said predetermined station for selecting any of said supports and causing it to be moved to the predetermined station by the shortest route.

17. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means at each of said stations except a predetermined one for selecting one of said supports and causing it to be moved to the corresponding station by the shortest route, and means at the said predetermined station for selecting any one of said plurality of supports and causing it to be moved to said predetermined station by the shortest route.

18. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, motive means for effecting movement of the supports, and means for controlling said motive means including call means and dispatch means at a predetermined one of the stations each operable to select any one of the supports, call means and dispatch means at each of the stations other than said predetermined station each operable to select any one support in a group of the supports, and means including means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports, i or causing said motive means to effect movement of a support selected by the operation of said call means to the station having the operated call means by the shortest route and for causing the motive means to eiiect movement of a support selected by the operation of the dispatch means at the predetermined station by the shortest route to a predetermined other station as well as for causing the motive means to effect movement of a support selected by the operation of the dispatch means at one of the stations other than said predetermined station to the predetermined station by the shortest route.

19. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, motive means for efi'ecting movement of the supports, and means for controlling said mo-' tive means including call means and dispatch means at a predetermined one of the stations each operable to select any one of the supports, call means and dispatch means at each of the stations other than said predetermined station each operable to select any one support in a group of the supports, and means including means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports, for causing said motive means to effect movement of a support selected by the operation of said call means to the station having the operated call means by the shortest route and stop it thereat and for causing the motive means to effect movement of a support selected by the operation of the dispatch means at the predetermined station by the shortest route to a predetermined other station and stop it thereat as well as for causing the motive means to effect movement of a support selected by the operation of the dispatch means at one of the stations other than said predetermined station to the predetermined station by the shortest route and stop it thereat.

20. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means for selecting any particular support, and means movable in accordance with the movement of said supports for causing a selected support to be moved to one of said stations by the shortest route and for causing it to be moved from the said one station to'another of said stations by the shortest route.

21. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations, means for selecting any particular support, and means movable in accordance With the movement of said. supports for causing a selected support to be moved to one of said stations by the shortest route and stopped thereat, and for causing it to be moved from the said one staiii newness tion to another of said stations by the shortest route and stopped thereat.

22. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations and motive means for moving said supports, a control system for said motive means comprising: operating means at each of said stations for selecting one of said supports corresponding respectively thereto, selector means movable in accordance with the movement of said supports for automatically effecting the connection of said motive means to a source of sup ply upon the actuation of one of said operating means whereby the said motive means moves the support corresponding to the operating means actuated to the station having the operating means by the shortest route.

23. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations and motive means for moving said supports, a control system for said motive means comprising: operating means at each of said stations for selecting one of said supports corresponding respectively thereto, selector means movable in accordance with the movement of said supports for automatically effecting the connection of said motive means to a source of supply upon the actuation of one of said opcrating means whereby the said motive means moves the support corresponding to the operating means actuated to the station having the operating means by the shortest route, and for automatically effecting the disconnection of said motive means from the source of supply upon the arrival of the selected support at the station having the corresponding operating means whereby the selected support is stopped thereat.

24. In a structure comprising a'plurality of supports movablein an endless path past a plurality of stations and motive means for moving said supports, a control system for said motive means comprising: operating means at each of said stations except a predetermined one thereof for selecting one of said supports corresponding respectively thereto, operating means at the predeter mined station for selecting any one of said plurality of supports, and selector means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports for automatically efiecting the connection of said motive means to a source of supply upon the actuation of any of the said operating means whereby the said motive means moves the support corresponding to the operating means actuated to the station having the operating means by the shortest route.

25. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path past a plurality of stations and motive means for moving said supports, a control system for said motive means comprising: operating means at each of said stations except a predetermined one thereof for selecting one of said supports corresponding respectively thereto, operating means at the predetermined station for selecting an one of said movable in accordance with the movement of the supports for automatically effecting the connection of said motive means to a source of supply upon the actuation of any of the said operating means whereby the said motive means moves the support correspond-- moving said supports, a control system for 1 said motive means comprising: operating means at each of said stations other than a predetermined one thereof for registering a call for any one of a particular few of said plurality of supports, selector means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports for automatically effecting the actuation of said motive means upon the operation of any one of said operating means whereby the support correspondin to the operating means operated is moved to the station having the operating means operated by the shortest route, operating means at each of said stations except the said predetermined station for registering a dispatch signal for any one of a particular few of the said plurality of supports movable thereto by operation of the said call operating means whereby in cooperation with the selector means the said motive means is actuated to move the particular support from a posi: tion adjacent the operating means operated to the said predetermined station by the shortest route.

27. The combination in a multi-fioor building having a hatchway extending past the floors, of a plurality oi supports movable in an endless path within the hatchway successively past the floors and alignable therewith, motive means for efi'ecting movement of said supports, and control means for the said motive means including call means and dispatch means at one of said floors each operable to.

select any of the supports, call means and dispatch means at each of the fioors other than said one floor each operable to select one support corresponding thereto, said control means being effective to control said motive means to cause it to effect movement of a support selected by the o eration of any of the call means to the floor laving the operatplurality of supports, and se ector means ed call means by the shortest route and also to cause the motive means to efl'ect movement of a support selected by the operation of any of the dispatch means to a predetermined floor other than the one having the operated dispatch means by the shortest route.

28. The combination in a multi-floor building, of a plurality of stations therein, a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past said stations, motive means for effecting movement of said supports, and means for controlling said motive means including call means and dispatch means at one of said stations, each operable to select any one of the supports, said control means being efiective to control said motive means to cause it to effect movement of a support selected by the operation ofsaid call means to the said one station by the shortest route and to cause the motive means to effect movementof a support selected by the operation of said dispatch means to a predetermined station other than said one station by the shortest route.

29. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, call means and dispatch means at one of said stations each operable to select any one of the supports, and means movable in accordance with the movement of (he supports effective to cause movement of a support selected by the operation of said call means to the said one station, by the shortest route as well as to cause movement of a support selected by the operation of the said dispatch means to a station other than said one station by the shortest route.

30. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, call means and dispatch means at each of the stations each operable to select a support corresponding thereto, and means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports'eftective to cause movement of a support selected by the operation of a call means to the station having the operated call means by the shortest route and also ellective to cause movement of a support seleced by the operation of a dispatch means to a station other than the station having the operated dispatch means by the shortest route.

31. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, call means and dispatch means a; each of the stations except a predetermined one thereof each operable to select a support corresponding thereto, and means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports effective to cause movement of a support selcc'ed by the operation of a call means to the station havingthe operated call means by the aoaaaie shortest route and also effective to cause movement of a support selected by the operation of a dispatch means to the predetermined station by the shortest route.

32. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, motive means for eflecting movement of the supporis, and control means for said motive means including call means and dispatch means at each of the stations except a predetermined one thereof each operable to select a support corresponding thereto, and means movable in accordance with the movement of the supports for controlling saidmotive means to cause it to move a support selected by the operation of a call means to the station having the 0 erated call means by the shortest route and also to cause the motive means to move a support selected by the operation of a dispatch means to the predetermined station by the shortest route.

33. In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, motive means for effecting movement of the supports, and means for controlling said motive means including control means at one of said stations operable to select any one of the supports, control means at each of the remaining stations operable to select one support corresponding thereto, and means movable in accordance with the movement of the sup ports, for controlling said motive means to cause it to effect movement of a selected support by the shortest route to the station having the operated control means.

34. In a structure comprisin a plurality of supports movable in an endlss path successively past a plurality of stations, means for controlling the movement of the supports including call means and dispatch means at each of the stations excepta predetermined one thereof each operable to select any one of a predetermined few of said plurality of supports, and means including meansmovable in accordance with themovement of the supports, for effecting the movement of a support selected by the operation of a call means to the stat-ion having the operated call means by the shortest route and for effecting movement of a support selected by the operation of a dispatch means to the predetermined one station by the shortest route.

In a structure comprising a plurality of supports movable in an endless path successively past a plurality of stations, control means for said supports including means at each of the stations except a predetermined one thereof operable to select a support corresponding thereto, means at the predetermined station operable to select any one of Y 

